Shearing-machine.



A. J. BATES. SHEARING MACHiNE. APPLICATION man ocr. :2. 19:1.

Patented Dec 2918 I0 SHEETSSHEET 1- J BATES ING MACHINE.

I I9. Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

I0 SHETS-SHEEI 2- SHEAR APPLICATION A. 1. BATES SHEARING MACHINE.

7 APPLICATION FILED OCT-12.1917. Y 1,286,203,; Patented new 1918.

10 SHEETS-SHEET a. 42

A. JFBATES. SHEARiNG MACHINE. APPLICATIONFILED on. 12. 191.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

N 7... Q KM, .P.

lll l 1 4 N w k A. J. BATES.

SHEARING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. :2. 19m.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

I0 SHEETSSH EET 5- k i i W mw tll 3 mm mm A m r F g R G W x m In \w w HWQ i. .%w. 1 c

' APPI" T ED OCT. 12; 1917- A. BATES.

SHEARING MACHINE.

I0 SHEETSSHEET 6- java/ZZZ? I PatentedDec. 3, 1918.

A. J.BATES.

SHEARING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED OCT. 12. 1917.

Patented Dec. 3, 19.18.

\0 SHEETS-SHEEI I.

A. J. BATES.

SHEABING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED our. I2, 1917.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 9- A. 1.3mm. SH EARING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILEDYO CT. 12.1917.

. m m v 9w b ALBERT J. BATES, F CHICAGD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BATES EXPANDED STEEL TRUSS 66%, OF HILMINGTDN, DTELAVHLEE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

SHEARING-MACHINE.

1,286,203. p ifi of Letters Patent Patented Dec. 3, 1918. Application filed October 12, 1917. Serial No. 196,307. To allu'iwmz'tmag concern: Fig. l is a vertical section on the line Be it known that'l, Athena J. Barns, a l-l of Fig. 3; i citizen of the United States. residing at Chi- Fig. is a vertical section on the line 5% cago, in the county of Cook and State of of Fig. 3; Illinois, have. invented certain new and use- Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail in section illusful Improvements in Shearing-l lachines, of trating the means for controlling the feed which the following is a specification. mechanism;

This invention relates to the art of metal Fig. 7 is a similar view illustrating a difworking and more particularly to a. machine ferent position of theparts; for shearing metal, such as structural steel Fig. 8 isi a side elevation illustrating the members which are to be subsequently excont-rolling means on a somewhat, sznaller panded to provide integral truss structures. scale; I

The primary object of my invention is Fig. 9 is an. enlarged vertical section the provision of a rotary shear which is subthrough the rolls for returning the metal stantial, powerful, continuous and rapid in distorted during the shearing operation to operation and which is well adapted for its normal plane;

shearing cold metal of considerable thiclt- Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of ness. Fig. 9;

A further object of my invention is the Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical section provision of means whereby a plurality of through the feed mechanism; longitudinally spaced slits may bcniade in Fig. 12 is an enlarged vertical section the metal without injury thereto and for re through the receiving table; placing metal displaced during the shear- 13 is an enlarged sectional view illusing operation in its original plane. tratmg the manner in which the shear e1e Another object, of my invention is to proments are. secured to the shear members; vide means for shearing structural members Fig. 14 is a section on the line l-l-l r of to produce a plurality of longitudinally and i l- 3; laterally spaced slits of progressively vary- Fig. 15 is a plan view of a 0rtion of a ing lengths so that when expanded the truss structural member after the s rearing opele-ments thus formed will vary in length eration; and the member in its final form will be lon- Fig. 1G is a development of the face of the gritudinally tapered. lower shear member;

Further objects and advantages of my in- Fig. l? is a plan view of the upper shear vention reside in the provision of sin'iple and member; etl'ective means to continually drive the Fig. 18 is a section on the line 1818 of shear elements from a source. of power, to Fig. l-l: and establish a driving connection from the Fig. 19 is a section on the line l9-19 of source of power to the feed mechanism at Fig. ll. will. to autonmtically synchronize the shear Referring to the drawing 5 imlic'ates a members with the reed mechanism prior to foundation preferably of concrete providingwfi each actuation of the latter, to :uItomat-irally a pit. beneath the floor. in which a portion break the driving connection at intervals of the structure is located so that the own and to prevent the establishment of a drivative parts are disposed at a convenient. ing connection under certain conditions. level above the lioor. I

Other objects and advantages of my in- A shaft 7 is journaled in a bearing supvention will be. apparent as it is better unported on the foundation 5 at one side of derstood hv reference to the following specithe pit and in a hearing 9 in a frame 10 supfication when read in connection with the ported on the foundation and spanning the accompanying drawing, illustrating the prcpit. A. shaft 11 is journaled in a "bearing 12 tori-ed embodiment thereof, in which on the frame 10 above the bearing 9 and in Figure l is a. plan view of my invention; a hearing 13 on a frame 14 supported on the l i, 2 is a vertical section on the line 22 foundation The shafts 7 and 11 carry oi Fig. l; the uppeand lower rotary shear members Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section on 15 and 18 having 19:11 elements on their pethe liue-33 of Fig. l; riphr-ries as Will presently he described.

The rotary shear members and 16 are also n'ovided on their peripheries with inter-engaging gear teeth 17 whereby they are caused to rotate at the same peripheral speed when one of the rotary shear members is driven from a source of power.

A source of power, such for example as the motor 18 (Fig. l). is i'nounted on the foundation Sadjacent the shear and drives a shaft 19, journaled in suitable bearings 20 on the frames 10 and ll, through a pinion 21 and a gear 21. A pinion 2 on shaft 1 drives gear 22 on a shaft .23. A pinion 91; (Fig. t) on shaft meshes with the teeth 17 on the lower shear member to to drive the latter continuously when the machine is in operation. This is desirable because of the great weight; andconsequent inertia of the shear members, more power being absorbed in starting the shear members than is necessary to maintain them in rotation between the intern'iittent shearing operations.

The niechai'iism for feeding material to be sheared to the rotary shear members comprises an elongated support 23 (Figs. 4' and 11) having stepped wings 26 at either side thereof to support structural members 27 of different dimensions. A housing 28 is mounted on the support '25 and incloses a chain which passes about a driven sprocket 30, adjacent the shear members. and a corresponding idle sprocket (not shown) at the opposite end of the support 25. The chain 25) is provided with two lugs 31 spaced apart thereon and projecting through a slot 32 in the housing to engage the end of the structural member 27 and advance it along the support 2 The sprocket is loosely supported on a shaft 3:5. mounted in bearings 33 on the framcsiO and i-t and 'is opcratively connec ed o the shaft 33 by a lost-n'iotion connecti n which compensates for any slight differences in thespeed of the shear elements due to variations in the thickness of the ma terial sheared. The lost-motion connection comprises a member 5H (l ig. -l) keyed to the shaft and provided with flanges 3.3 between which and correspomling flanges 3 on the sprocket 3t), springs 37 are disposed. Bolts 38 connecting the flanges and 3t) prevent relative movement thereof in one directioi'i. As will be readily understood from the fm'egoing dcscri 'ition. any retarda tion of the chain 99 owing to decreased peripheral speed of the sl \ar members will result in compression of the springs and no injury to the mecl'ianism can result.

From the shear n'icn'ibers the structural member 27 is delivered to therolls 3! and -10 (Figs. 4 and 9) which return the metal d isplaced during the shearing operation to its original plane. The rolls 39 and it) are supported on shafts 4-1 and -12 journalcd in bearings 4-3 and 4:4.- on the frames 10 and 1 t. (in

1,ese,aos

either side of the roll 40 flange guides are supported on the shaft 42 and are adapted to cooperate with the flanges of the sheared structural member to maintain them in proper relative position. Collars 46 on the shaft 4.2 provide for adjustment of the flange guides -1-5 in accordance with the depth of the flanged structural members which are passed through the machine. A sprocket 47 on the shaft 1 1 is driven by a chain 48 which passes around a sprocket 49 on the shaft 11. The sprockets t7 and it are proportioned so that the peripherz 1 speed of the rolls 39 and it) equal to the peripheral speed of the rotar shear members. The rolls 39 and 10 are continuously driven when the machine is in operation. A table is arranged adjacent the rolls 39 and 4-0 and is adapted to receive the sheared structural members therefrom. The table comprises uprights 50 (Fig.2), a horizontal channel member 51 (Fig. 12) and brackets 52 supporting rollers The rollers 53 are stepped to receive structural members of different dimensions.

The shaft 33 is intermittently actuated to advance the chain :29 at a speed corresponding to the peripheral speed of the shear members by the following mechanism. A gear 54 -s fast to the shaft 33 and meshes with a pinion 55 3) loose on the shaft 23 and having clutch teeth 56. A clutch 57 having cooperating teeth. is splined to the shaft 23 and is movable into and out of engagement with the clutch teeth 56 by means of a clutch lever 58 (Fig. 1) connected at one end to the clutch 57 and pivoted at 59 on a bracket 60 secured to the frame. 10. A spring 61 secured to the opposite end of the clutch lever and to the frame 14 tends to hold the clutch 57 in operative position to lock the pinion 55 to the shaft 23.

To automatically disengage the clutch 57 from the clutch teeth at the conclusion of each shearing operation I provide av bar 62 (Figs. 6, 7 and 8) which is slidably mounted in openings in the frames 10 and 14. One end of the bar (i2 is connected to a lever (33 pivoted at o-l on rue frame 10 and carries roller 65 in the path of a cam 66 on the side of the shear member 16. The bar (32 is provided with'a slot 67 embracing the level-J8. The cam 6b is arranged on the shear member '16 so that it engages the roller 6521s the shearing operation is completed and swings the lever (33 to the position indicated in Fig. 7. The lever 58 is consequentlyswung on its pivot to the dotted position in- Fig. 6 to with draw the clutch 57. permitting the feed mechanism to come to rest. A latch 68 is pivoted at (it) on the frame 14 and is connected by a link 70 to a bar 71 slotted at 72 to engage a bolt 73 on the frame 14 so that the bar is permittml to slide longitmlinallv on the bolt and to swing about the bolt as pivot. A spring 71, secured to the end of i. seen the link 70 and to the frame 14, tends to draw the link upwardly and toward the frame 14. Thus when the lever 58 is moved to the position indicated in Fig. 7 the spring 74; will cause a hardened steel wear block 75 on the latch 68 to engage behind the lever 58 to hold the clutch 57 in inoperative position.

To again start the feeding mechanism, T

i provide a foot pedal 76 (Figs. 2 and 4) pivmechanism is actuated intermittently.

oted at 77 on a suitable bracket 78 adjacent the feed mechanism and connected by a cable 79 which is guided by sheaves 80 and 81 (Figs. 3 and 8) to the link 70. A cable 82 connects the cable 79 (Fig. 2) to a. bellcrank lever 83 pivoted in a bracket 84 on the channel member 51. The free arm of the bellcrank lever 88 is arranged in the path of the structural members 27 on the supporting rollers 53 and when structural member is disposed thereon the bell-crank lever 83 is swung about its pivot and through its con necting cable 82 prevents actuation of the foot pedal 76. Thus the operator is pre vented from starting the feeding mechanism until the sheared structural member has been removed from the machine.

It is essential that the shear members and feed mechanism be synchronized during the shearing; operation in order that the slits may be properly spaced with respect to the ends of the structural member. The shear members rotate continuously while the To save the time oi the operator, who must sometimes travel a considerable distance between the machine and the supply structural members, and relieve him of the re sponsibility of starting the feed mechanism at the proper time the mechanism controlled by the foot pedal 76 is arranged so that it does not release the clutch lever 58 as soon as the foot pedal is depressed. Depression of the foot pedal, however, initiates the action which automatically starts the feed mechanism when the shear members reach a predetermined position.

As previously stated the cable 79 connects the foot pedal 76 and link 70. When the foot pedal is depressed the link 70 and bar 71 are moved to the left, carrying the end of the bar 71 to which a hardened steel wear block 84 is secured into the path of a cam. 85 on the shear member ltl adjacent the cam 66. The bar 71 held in this position by a latch. 86 which drops behind a shoulder 87 formed at the end of the wear block 84. The movement of the latch 86 is limited by a slot 88 formed in a plate 89 secured to the fran'ie 10 in which the end of the latch 86 is disposed. \Vhen the cam 85 engages the wear block 84 the bar 71 is depressed. The latch 86 is similarly depressed through the connecting link until the wear block disengages the clutch lever 58 which is actuated by the spring 61 to move the clutch 57 to operative position and start the feed mechanism. lVhen the bar 71 rides over the highest portion of the cam the shoulder 87 disengages the latch 86 and the spring 74 moves the bar 71 to the position indicated in dotted linesin Fig. 6. The machine now in operation until at the conclusion of a single revolution of the shear member 16 the cam 66 again engages the roller (35 and actuates the mechanism to disengag the clutch 57.

The rims of the rotary sheai' men'ibers l5 and 1b are rabbeted (Fig. 13) to provide a support for the shear elements. The shear elements and 88 on the shear members 15 and 16, respectively. are supported on thrust plates and 85 which engage the peripneries of the rotary shear members. The shear elements and thrust plates are held in position between the clamping plates 90 d are securely fastened to the peripheries the rotary shear members by bolts i l. heads of whichengane circular slots 92 the peripheral portion of the rotary members. Clamps 93 are disposed the outer clan'iping plates 90 and on the bolts 91. This arrange tins the shear elements 88 rig- !lu desired po 'tion and transmits the irectly to the rotary shear ditlerence to be noted he- :ir elements 8b and 8d. The annular ex .idinn unbroken )hcry of the shear member 15 n are separate with their cut aced circumterentially of the 16 to provide the intact portions between the slits in the sheared structural. n'iember. The shear elements 88'. may progressively vary in length to produce corresponding slits in the structural member.

n carrying out the desired object of shearing structural members which are to be subsequently expanded to provide integral truss structures it is necessary to provide for cutting a plurality of lines of slits 95 15) in the web of the mc-mberjthe slits bein spaced longitudinally and staggered so that intact portions 96 appear in similar relation throughout the entire length i' t aired member. The shear elements on the lower rotary shear member 16 are, therefore. separated by filler blocks 97 {Fig 13) so that. the inner fflCtS of the shear elements 5%! are substantially in the plane of the outer tacos of the shear elements 88 on the upper rotary shear member 15, the latter shear elements being disposed in abutting relation. This arrangement has an advantage in that the lateral forces which nor mally would tend to separate the opposed shear elements u-ihen pressure is exerted thereon are neutralized or balanced and hence I am able to shear cleanly material of considerable thickness without danger of elements.

distorting the metal or breaking the shear As has previously been stated it is necessary that the slits 95 be staggered and accordingly the shear elements 88 are arranged in staggered relation on the lower rotary shear member 16, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 16. The shear elements 88 on the upper rotary shear member 15 present continuous shearing edges to the upper face of the structural member 27 as it passes between the shear members.

The modeof operation of my invention should be apparent from the following brief description thereof. flanged structural member 27 to be sheared is disposed upon the support :25 and the foot pedal To is depressed to move the bar 71 to the position indicated in Fig. T, where it remains until the rotary shear member 16 has re vo'lved to engage the cam H5 thereon with the wear block 84- on the bar 71. The bar is depressed in the manner previously described to cause the latch (32) to disengage the clutch lever 58. thus permitting the clutch 57 to engage the clutch teeth (so and start the feed mechanism. The structural member '27 is thus moved into the bite between the shear elements SH and as on the rotary shear members. .\s the structural member 27 advances the opposed shear elements shear and displace the metal as indicated in Figs. 18 and 19. Fig. la illustrating the action at a point where the slits J5 over-- lap and Fig.- lt) illustrating the action atone of the intact portions M3. The structural member 27 continues to advance until itengages the rolls 3t) and 4-0. which serve to return the displaced metal to its normal plane, so that when the operation is completed and the structural member 27 rests upon the rollers 53, the web of the structural member 27 will present its normal tlat ap ,pearance but with the staggered. slits 95 therein.

In carrying out the practical application of my invention I have discmered that it is not practicable to so arrange the shear elements 88. and 88 that they meet during the shearing operation as has heretofore been the common practice in the, operation of shears for the reason that the displacement of the metal would be so great as to strain the intact portions 96 to an extent which would either rupture the metal or so Weaken it that it is useless. I have discovered, however that in treating nonfibrous material, such as steel, itis possible to shear cleanly through the metal without causing the shear elements to meet. it being sutiicientin fact for the sl *ar elements to approach each other as closely as one-half of the thickness of the, metal to be sheared. I have therefore. arranged the rotary shear members 15 and 16 so that the opposed shear metal which the machine is designed to elements H8 and 8b" thereon are spaced in a line connecting the centersiof the rotary shear members a distance equal to approximately one-half 'of ,the thickness of the treat.

l'nder this condition the displacement of the metal during the shearing operation is not s'ntlicient t in any way endanger the intact portions tlti but owing. as before stated, to the nontibrous nature of the material the. metal is cleanly sheared and the slits D5 are formed without the necessity of causing the shear elements 88 and 88 to meet. The rolls 39 and 40 have an additional function in this connection. Should the shear elements 88 and S8 fail to break all of the fibers during the shearing operation, the doubling back of the fibers as the metal passes between the rolls 3S) and to will insure that the fibers are broken so that by no pos sibility can a structural member '27 leave the machine with the portions which should be slitted intact.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that l have perfected a machine which presents numerous features of novelty over the prior art and which is peculiarly adapted to perform a desiredfunction in a novel and extremely d sirable manner and with snllicient rapidity to meet the commercial conditions whichsurround the treatment of metallic structural members for the purposes for which expanded truss structures are adapted.

it will be further apparent that various changes may be made in the form. construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its material advantages. the. form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I. claim:

1. A rotary shear comprising a support, a. pair of opposed cooperating rotary shear members mounted thereon, means for cona pair of opposed cooperating rotary shear members mounted thereon, means for continuously rotating said members, mechanism for feeding material to said shear members, and means jointly controllable by the operator and by one of said shear members for intermittently actuating said mechanism in Synchronism with said shear members.

4:. A rotary shear comprising a support, a pair of rotary shear members mounted thereon, means for continuously rotating said members, mechanism for feeding material to said shear members, means jointly controllable by the operator and by one of said shear members for intermittently actuating said mechanism in synchronism with said shear members, and means for automatically stopping actuation of said mechanism at the conclusion of each shearing operation.

5. A rotary shear comprising a support, a pair of opposed cooperating rotary shear members mounted thereon, a source of power, means perimlnently connecting said source of power and shear members. whereby the latter are continuously driven, mechanism for feeding material to said shear members, and means controllable jointly by the operator and by said shear members for intermittently actuating said feed mechanism in synchronism with said shear members.

(3. A rotary shear con'iprising a support, a pair of rotary shear members mounted thereon, a source of power, means for driving said shear members continuously from said source of power. mechanism for feeding material to said shear members, means CODtI'OlltlblO jointly by the operator and by said shear members to connect said mechanism to said source of power, and means to automatically disconnect said mechanism from said source of power at the conclusion of each shearing operation.

7. A rotary shear comprising a support,

a pair of rotary shear members mounted,

thereon, means for continuonslv rotating said members, mechanism for feeding material to said shear members. means under control of one of said members tor intermittently actuating said mechanism, means controllal'ile by the operator initiating the operation of said actuating means, and means to prevent actuation of said mechanism While material remains in the machine.

8. A rotary shear con'iprising a support, a pair of rotary shear members, mounted thereon. a source of power. means for driving said shear members continuously from said source of power, mechanism for feeding material to said shear members, means controllable jointly by the operator and by said shear members to connect said mechanism to said sourceof power, means to automatically disconnect said mechanism from said members being arranged said source of power at the conclusion of each shearing operation, and means to prevent actuation of said mechanism while material remains in the machine.

9. A rotary shear comprising a support, a pair of opposed cooperating rotary shear members mounted thereon, a source of power. a continuous driving connection between said source oi power and S] 1211' members. mechanisn'i tor feeding material to said shear members, a driving connection between said source of power and mechanism, and means controllable jointly by the operator and by said shear members to make and break the latter driving connection.

10. A rotary shear comprising a support, a pair or rotary shear members mounted thereon, a source of power, a continuous driving connection between said source of power and shear members, mechanism for feeding material to said shear members, means controllable jointly by the operator and by said shear members to lntcrmittently connect said mechanism to the source of power in synchronism with said shear members, and means for breaking the lriving connection to said mechanism at the coin clusion oi each shearing operation.

11. A rotary shear comprising a support, a pair of rotary shear members mounted thereon in cooperating relation, one ot said members being of relatively large diameter and having a plurality oi circumterentially and transversely spaced shear elcmcnlsa ll its periphery and the other member being of relatively small diameter and having circumt'crcntially continuou shear elements on its periphery arran ed back to back with their outer tacos substantially in the plane of the inner t'aces or" the circumtercntially spaced shear elements.

12. .x rotary shear comprising a support, a pair of rotary shear members mounted thereon in cooperating relation, one of said members having a plurality of circumferentially spaced shear elements secured to its pe ri heryand the other member having cir cunm-rentially continuous shear elements on its periphery, the shear elements on one of in abutting relation and the shear elements on the other member being spaced transversely of said member so that their inner faces are sub stantially in the planes of the outer faces of the cooperating shear elements.

13. A rotary shear comprising a support, a pair of rotary shear members mounted thereon and operatively connected to rotate at the same peripheral speed. a plurality of circumfcrentialiy spaced shear elements on one of said members, circuniterentially continuous shear elements on the other men'iber, means for rotating said members, mechanism for feeding material to said members,

means for intermittently actuating said mechanism and means for a utomatically stopping said mechanism at the conclusion of each feeding o )eration.

14. A. rotary shear COIHIH'lSlDg a support, a pair of rotary shear members mounted thereon and operatively connected to rotate at the same peripheral speed, a plurality of circumferentially spaced shear elements on one of said members, circumferentially continuous shear elements on the other member, means for rotating said members, mechanism for feeding material to said members, and means controllable jointly by the operator and by said members for inter mittently actuating said mechanism in synchronism with said member.

15. A rotary shear con'iprising a support, a pair of opposed cooperating rotary shear members mounted thereon, a source ozt' power, means permanently connecting said source of power and shear members, whereby the latter are continuously driven, mechanism for feeding material to said shear members, means under control of one of said members for intermittently actuating said teed inechanism from said source of power and means controllable by the operator for initiating the operation of said actuating means.

16. A rotary shear comprising a support, a pair of opposed cooperating; rotary shear members inminted thereon and operatively connected to rotate at the same peripheral speed, a 'ilurality of circumterentially spaced shearelen'ients on one of said memhers, and eircumferentially continuous shear elements on the other member, means for r0- tating' said mcl'nbers, mechanism for feeding material to said members, means under control of one of said members for intermittently actuating said mechanism, and means controllable by the operator for initiating the operation of said actuating means.

17. A rotary shear comprising a support, a pair of rotary shear members mounted thereon and operativeiy connected to rotate at the same peripheral speed, a plurality of circumferentially spaced shear elements on one of said members, circumferentially continuous shear elements on the other member, means for rotating said members, mechanism for feeding material to said members, means controllable jointly by the operator and by said members for intermittently actuating said mechanism in synchronism With said member, and means to prevent actuation of said mechanism while materialremains in the machine. i a I ALBERT J. BATES. Witnesses:

M. A. Emma, 7 Banner H. lllERCHAN'l. 

